31 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Connecticut: On 19 December 2013, the State Insurance Department issued Bulletin 1C-37 informing health insurance companies and like providers that deliver or issue individual and group health insurance policies within the state, that they are now required to cover treatments related to gender transition. Connecticut Insurance Department: Gender Identity Nondiscrimination RequirementsBulletin 1C-37 1.49MB, 20 DEC 13

UNITED STATES, Utah: On 31 December 2013, the State of Utah petitioned the Supreme Court to stay the ruling by US District Judge Robert Shelby in the marriage equality case. The petition is addressed to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is assigned to hear such petitions that come from states in the 10th Circuit. Application to Stay Judgment Pending Appeal: Gary R Herbet & Ors v. Derek Kitchen & OrsNo. A13- 927.60kb 31 DEC13

UNITED STATES, Kansas: On 31 December 2013, same-sex married couples Roberta and Julia Woodrick and Michael Nelson and Charles Dedmon were reported to have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Revenue seeking an order that they file tax returns as married couples and not as single persons.

26 December 2013

BULGARIA: On 26 December 2013, the Supreme Administrative Court was reported to have ruled that the gays are more dangerous than tobacco smoking because they spread AIDS on a mass scale comment of film director Andrey Slabakov constituted unlawful harassment, ordering the country's Commission for Protection against Discrimination to take action against him.

ISRAEL: On 25 December 2013, the Knesset passed 44-20 a bill to allow same-sex parents to enjoy the same tax benefits as heterosexual couples with children. The Finance Ministry is expected to approve the reform by regulation.

24 December 2013

UNITED STATES, West Virginia: On 23 December 2013, the Huntington City Council voted 11-0 to amend the Fairness Ordinance, prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and veteran status, such as in denying employment.

23 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Oklahoma: On 22 December 2013, lawyers acting for two same-sex couples suing for the right to marry in Oklahoma and to have a marriage from another jurisdiction recognized in the state, filed a brief pointing to a recent ruling in Utah that found a same-sex marriage ban violated the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians. Notice of Supplemental Post-Windsor Authority: Mary Bishop & Ors v. United States ex rel. Eric H Holder & Anor.No. 04-CV-848-TCK-TLW 319.43kb, 22 DEC 13

UNITED STATES, Indiana: On 23 December 2013, the Court of Appeals, in a 3-0 ruling delivered by Mathias J, determined that Indiana's law banning same-sex marriage cannot be used to invalidate a marriage if one spouse later changes his or her gender identity. Opinion: In Re the Marriage of Melanie Davis and Angela SummersNo. 53A01-1305-DR-221 224.21kb, 20 DEC 13

UNITED STATES, Ohio: On 23 December 2013, Judge Timothy Black in the Ohio US District Court that state officials must recognize the unions of same-sex couples,specifically addressing the matter of the issuance of death certificates and touching upon all aspects of the state law denying marriage equality. Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunction: James Obergefell v. Theodore W WymysloCase No. 1:13-cv-501 26.59kb, 23 DEC 13

UNITED STATES, New Jersey: On 19 December 2013, the Senate passed Bill A4097 (S2786) by a vote of 21-11. If signed into law by Governor Christie, the often-difficult and cost-prohibitive process of updating identification documents will be made easier for transgender individuals.

20 December 2013

UNITED STATES, New Mexico, Utah: On 20 December 2013, Deswood Tome, an adviser to Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, reportedly said that the tribe's own law prohibiting same-sex marriage isn’t affected by the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples in New Mexico (and presumably Utah).

UGANDA: On 20 December 2013, the Parliament passed the Private Members' Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex and the promotion or recognition of such sexual relations in public institutions and other places. The Bill must be signed by the President before it can become law.

UNITED STATES, Utah: On 20 December 2013, US District Judge Robert J Shelby in the Utah District Court granted a motion for summary judgement in a same-sex marriage case ruling that the State ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and perpetuates inequality. Memorandum Decision and Order: Derek Kitchen & Ors. v. Gary R Herbert & Ors.Case No. 2:13-cv-217 230.60kb, 20 DEC 13

19 December 2013

UNITED STATES, New Mexico: On 19 December 2013, the New Mexico Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional to deny a marriage license to gay and lesbian couples, holding 5-0 that civil marriage shall be construed to mean the voluntary union of two persons to the exclusion of all others. Opinion: Rose Griego & Ors v. Maggie Toulouse Oliver and AnorDocket No. 34,306 91.60kb, 19 DEC 13

18 December 2013

NETHERLANDS: On 18 December 2013, the Parliament passed a new law expected to take effect in July giving transgender people the ability to change their identity on official documents with only a statement from an expert testifying to their desire to change their gender identification.

NIGERIA: On 17 December 2013, the National Assembly conference committee on the Same-Sex Bill - stipulating that only marriage contracted between a man and a woman either under Islamic Law, Customary Law or the Marriage Act is recognised as valid - ratified the recommendation of 14-year jail term for offenders, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately sign the harmonized bill into law when finally passed both chambers.

16 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Washington DC: On 16 December 2013, Acting Commissioner of Social Security Carolyn W. Colvin announced that Social Security is processing some widow's and widower's claims by surviving members of same-sex marriages and paying benefits where they are due. In addition, one-time lump sum death benefit claims may be paid to surviving same-sex spouses.

14 December 2013

UNITED STATES, New Jersey: On 12 December 2013, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee approved 6-2, with 1 abstention, Bill A4097/S2786 which would allow the state's health department to issue new birth certificates to intersex or trans people who have not undergone gender reassignment surgery. The Bill was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. It must still be approved by the full Senate before it becomes law.

13 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Federal: On 13 December 2013, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed that National Guard organizations in all 50 states are now compliant with the Department of Defense's directive to extend benefits to all service members' legal spouses. Members in any state-run National Guard can now obtain military identification cards for their husbands or wives.

12 December 2013

BELARUS, Minsk: On 11 December 2013, the authorities in Minsk, the capital of the Eastern European country Belarus, reportedly announced the banning of two LGBT rights rallies shcedule for 11-12 December.

UNITED STATES, Florida: On 12 December 2013, the Pensacola City Council gave final approval 8-1 to establishing a domestic partnership registry. Registrants will be granted the ability to make medical and funeral decisions for each other, visit one another in the hospital or prison and participate in the education of mutual children and also will be automatically notified in case of an emergency and designated as pre-need guardians.

JAPAN: On 10 December 2013, three of the five judges of the Supreme Court's Third Petty Bench upheld the petition of a female-to-male transgender man to be recorded on the official family registry as the father of a boy born to his wife after the use of semen from a donor.

11 December 2013

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: On 11 December 2013, the Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter was reported to have made an order, effective 31 December 2013, recognising gay and lesbian couples who married abroad in places where equal marriage became legal in 2013 and extending to them the rights and entitlements which apply to Irish Civil partnerships.

UNITED KINGDOM, Northern Ireland: On 11 December 2013, The Department of Health was reported to have announced that Following the Court of Appeal judgement in June 2013, unmarried couples, including same sex couples, and those in a civil partnership may apply to adopt. The final decision regarding the granting of an adoption order lies with the court.

10 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Louisiana: On 10 December 2013, the Shreveport City Council voted 6-1 to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance for the city preventing the discrimination against LGBT individuals in employment, housing, (real estate) and public spaces. Fairness Ordinance: Ordinance No. of 2013 68.13kb, 20 NOV 13

ISRAEL: On 09 December 2013, Tel Aviv Family Court Judge Naftali Shilo handed down the second court decision in the country's history approving the divorce of a homosexual couple. The court sidestepped the question of gay marriage, approving the divorce by merely ordering the Registrar to strike the couple's married status from its list of married couples.

UNITED KINGDOM: On 10 December 2013, Equalities Minister Maria Miller reportedly announced that couples wishing to marry in England and Wales and giving formal notice of their intention by 13 March, will be able to marry from 29 March 2014.

09 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Kentucky: On 09 December 2013, the Morehead City Council unanimously approved an anti-discrimination Fairness ordinance, extending discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro: On 08 December 2013, one hundred thirty same-sex couples married in a mass wedding at Rio de Janeiro’s Superior Court before Judge Cristina Gaulia, even though Brazil’s national congress has not passed a bill legalizing gay marriage. The National Judicial Council approved same-sex marriage on 14 May 2013.

TAIWAN: On 09 December 2013, the Ministry of Health and Welfare reportedly decided to allow people to change their legal gender without the need not go through any medical procedures, including psychiatric evaluation.

06 December 2013

UNITED STATES: On 06 December 2013, the LGBT Practice group of Marcum LLP released its Top 10 Tax Planning Tips for Legally Married Same-Sex Couples. The guide provides a preliminary roadmap for same-sex married couples in the first year they will file taxes since the federal government officially recognized same-sex marriage for tax purposes.

UNITED STATES, Maryland: On 02 December 2013, the City of Hyattsville council voted unanimously to add a Human Rights Charter to city ordinances, strengthening protections against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or physical characteristics, in employment, housing, real estate transactions and public accommodations. Ordinance 2013-04: Hyattsville Human Rights Act 1.90MB 05 DEC 13

04 December 2013

CANADA, Saskatchewan: On 06 November 2013, Justice Mona Dovell of the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon ruled that minimum-security inmates Jean Richer and Leslie Sinobert must ask Correctional Service Canada to determine if they can be in the same housing unit at the Riverbend Annex in Prince Albert, the Court process not being for the day-to-day management of a prison. Judgment: Jean Richer and Leslie Sinobert v. The Attorney General of Canada2013 SKQB 397 128.00kb, 06 NOV 13

RUSSIA: On 04 December 2013, the Consititutional Court was reported to have dismissed the complaint of Nikolai Alekseyev against the St. Petersburg law prohibiting the propaganda of homosexuality among minors and the propaganda of paedophilia. It ruled that the law does not contradict the Russian Constitution.

03 December 2013

UNITED STATES, Louisiana: On 03 December 2013, the Louisiana National Guard indicated that it will become the latest state to comply with a Defense Department directive to process spousal benefit applications for troops in same-sex marriages. Federal personnel will enroll all dependants of same-sex marriages, in benefits programs.

UNITED STATES, Nebraska: On 03 December 2013, the Douglas County Board voted to change the definition of an eligible spouse so it can include someone who is the same gender as the employee. The new definition covers all benefits including health insurance.

DENMARK: In June 2013 (quaere), the Children's Act was passed, giving lesbian couples the same parenting rights as heterosexual couples at the time of the child's birth. The woman not giving birth to the child will officially be registered as a 'co-mother', and will be granted the same parenting rights as fathers.

UNITED STATES, Mississippi: On 02 December 2013, Desoto County Chancery Judge Mitchell Lundy refused to grant a divorce to lesbian couple Lauren Beth Czekala-Chatham and Dana Ann Melancon who got married in California in 2008, saying the marriage wasn't recognized under state law .

UNITED STATES, Virginia: On 08 November 2013, the Virginia Department of Taxation issued a bulletin affirming that the state will not conform to the US Internal Revenue Service's new tax treatment of same-sex married couples because state law and a state constitutional amendment prohibit recognition of gay marriage. Tax Bulletin 13-13: Virginia Income Tax Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage 69.24kb, 08 NOV 13

02 December 2013

AUSTRALIA, Australian Capital Territory: On 03 December 2013, the High Court reserved its judgment in the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 case until December 12, allowing same-sex couples planning to marry under the ACT legislation this weekend to go ahead.

LITHUANIA: On 24 November 2013, the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) voted to proceed with a consideration of an amendment to the country's Code of Administrative Offences - submitted by Petras Gražulis in May - that would limit freedom of association, assembly and expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people if it becomes law.

01 December 2013

CROATIA: On 01 December 2103, the state electoral commission, citing near complete results, said 65 percent of those who voted answered yes to the referendum question: Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?. About 34 percent voted against. The result means that Croatia's constitution will be amended to ban same-sex marriage.

UNITED STATES, Louisiana: On 27 November 2013, US District Judge Martin Feldman in US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana dismissed the Jonathan P Robicheaux v. James D Caldwell lawsuit seeking marriage equality on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. Attorneys say they'll amend the complaint to continue the litigation. Order and Reasons: Jonathan P Robicheaux v. James D CaldwellNo. 13-cv-05090 606.63kb, 27 NOV 13